Drought Sparks Fourth of July Concerns

Scorching heat, scant rainfall and excessive winds have successfully parched much of Illinois and the Midwest, creating a potential perfect storm during tonight's firework shows.

Though the professionals are prepared, Chief Ken Dunn is asking those amateurs planning to blow off illegal fireworks to reconsider.

The National Integrated Drought Information System has placed all of Illinois in the moderate drought category, while some parts are labeled "abnormally dry" and few, "extremely dry."

According to the National Weather Service, the climate station at O'Hare International Airport measured around a half inch of rain in June, which is about 2.69 inches less than normal.

The little rain we have had in the past few days likely won't help, officials said.

"First of all, the ground is so hard that any rain we get is going to run off pretty quickly," Dunn said, last week. "Is it going to help green your grass up? Probably. But is it going to help us prevent fires? Not in areas of high grass and weeds. … If a fire does start there, it's going to spread pretty quickly."

Aside from dangers to themselves and others, residents lighting even minor explosives are posing a risk to their neighbors—particularly after our streak of dry weather.

"I don't think people realize how dangerous this is," Dunn said. "Once you light that thing, there's no telling."

He referenced a house fire that started on the Fourth of July last year after a bottle rocket shot through a bedroom window. Given the conditions, professionals are taking extraordinary precautions to minimize the chance of disaster this year. Pyrotechnic crews have been working for weeks to plan for tonight's local fireworks display at McCarthy Park, 16801 S. 80th Ave., .

"We couldn't do this thing at the last minute," Dunn said. "We had to assess all factors in advance so we could set it up."

Coordinators through the split the cost with the village for the fireworks display and paid an extra $3,800 to rent irrigation equipment used to saturate the area around the fireworks launch and landing site. Dunn said they've been taking water from the adjacent pond and pumping it in and around the area. 

"The fireworks go everywhere," Dunn said. "That's why we have it a maximum radius away from the crowd out at the park district. If the wind is wrong, we may have to wait or not do it at all … There are houses on the south side of the creek that we have to be aware of."

Dunn encourages residents to enjoy the McCarthy Park show, which will be synched to music and perfectly timed, and leave the fireworks to the professionals. 

"Trust me, you don't want my professionals coming to your house," he said.

Looking for more Fourth of July stories?

Like us on Facebook!